Join us as we open the 63rd Army Operations Research Symposium (AORS) with a keynote address by Mr. Joseph D. Welch.
The keynote will be followed by a moderated question-and-answer session with Army Senior Leaders, focused on how analysts can best support the Army’s commitment to Continuous Transformation.
Senior Panel Members
Dr. Steven (Steve) A. Stoddard – Director, Center for Army Analysis
Dr. Stoddard serves as the Director of the Center for Army Analysis (CAA), leading the Army’s primary study program to inform senior leader decisions at the strategic and operational levels. He also directs the Army Modeling & Simulation Office (AMSO), overseeing M&S strategy, governance, and policy. In addition, he is the Executive Agent for Functional Area 57 (Modeling & Simulation officers) and the Functional Advisor for Career Program 36 (Analysis, Modeling & Simulation). His current efforts focus on ensuring the Army’s structure, capabilities, and readiness remain aligned to the National Defense Strategy.
A retired Army Colonel with 25 years of service, Dr. Stoddard’s career includes senior analytic leadership at CAA, OSD-CAPE, and Multi-National Corps–Iraq. He holds a Ph.D. from the Colorado School of Mines, an M.S. in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a B.S. from West Point. His awards include the Presidential Rank Award, multiple Superior and Meritorious Civilian Service Medals, and the David Rist Prize. He is a member of the Military Operations Research Society (MORS), INFORMS, and is a Life Member of American Veterans.
Mr. James Amato – Executive Technical Director / Deputy to the Commander, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
Mr. James Amato serves as the Executive Technical Director and Deputy to the Commander of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Appointed in 2020, he is responsible for the technical execution of all ATEC test plans and reports, the command’s evaluation strategy and analyses, and the integration of instrumentation, policy, modeling and simulation, and business improvement initiatives. His leadership ensures senior Army and OSD decision-makers receive the critical information needed before new systems are fielded to Soldiers and throughout their lifecycle.
A member of the Senior Executive Service since 2008, Mr. Amato has held multiple senior leadership positions including Director of the U.S. Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA), Director of the CCDC Data and Analysis Center, and Executive Director of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command. Over his career he has led organizations of more than 600 analysts, engineers, and scientists, guiding critical work in modernization, testing, requirements, and risk analysis. He holds a M.S. in National Security Strategy from the U.S. Army War College, a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a B.S. in Engineering from Loyola College. He is Level III certified in test and evaluation, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and has served the Army since entering federal service in 1987.
Mr. Larry R. Larimer – Director, DEVCOM Analysis Center and Acting Director, The Research and Analysis Center (TRAC)
Mr. Larry R. Larimer serves as the Director of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Analysis Center (DAC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He leads a workforce of more than 650 Civilians and Soldiers who provide objective analysis, experimentation, and data across the life cycle of materiel systems—enhancing Army readiness and enabling modernization. Under his leadership, DAC aligns its priorities with DEVCOM, Army Futures Command, and the U.S. Army, ensuring analysis informs critical decisions on requirements trades, technology investments, acquisition strategies, testing and evaluation, cyber resiliency, Soldier performance, sustainment alternatives, and lifecycle costs.
Mr. Larimer previously served as the Director of the Futures Integration Directorate, Army Futures Command, where he oversaw capability gap identification and integration of materiel solutions to enable Multi-Domain Operations. His career includes senior analytic leadership roles at the Research and Analysis Center, White Sands Missile Range, following 31 years of active-duty service as an Army Officer, retiring at the rank of Colonel. He holds a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy, an M.S. in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an M.S. in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Award for Excellence in Operations Research. He is a member of the Military Operations Research Society and the Army Operations Research Society.
Mr. Cody A. Beck – Deputy Director, The Research and Analysis Center (TRAC)
Mr. Cody A. Beck serves as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Research and Analysis Center (TRAC) and as Director of Operations at TRAC–Fort Leavenworth (FLVN), U.S. Army Futures Command. Appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2022, he leads operations analysis that informs senior leader decisions on future concepts, force design, and requirements for new capabilities in support of Army modernization.
Mr. Beck’s career includes over a decade of progressive leadership within TRAC–FLVN, where he advanced from analyst to division chief to director prior to assuming his current dual-hatted role. He previously served as an Army infantry officer, with assignments at Fort Benning, South Korea, Iraq, and Fort Carson, and as a member of the Army National Guard. He holds an M.S. in Operations Research from Kansas State University and a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, and the Wilbur B. Payne Award for Analytic Excellence (2x).